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Dawgs' Theus tackles a tough job

ATHENS — Nobody said that the transition from big-time recruit to starting offensive lineman in the Southeastern Conference wouldn’t include games like this.

Three false start penalties. A couple of sacks surrendered.

“Obviously, I had some stuff that I messed up on,” said Georgia freshman right tackle John Theus, assessing his second college game last Saturday in Georgia’s 41-20 win at Missouri.

Theus insisted the hostile road environment didn’t affect him. Nor did he blame his showing on missing much of the week in practice with a sprained left ankle.

“I gave it all I had,” Theus said. “That’s all I can ask for. The mistakes I made, I’m going to go back and fix them.”

Theus was satisfied with how he performed in his first college game against Buffalo.

As for his showing against Missouri, which also included pressure allowed on quarterback Aaron Murray on his second-quarter interception, he said that’s between him and offensive line coach Will Friend.

“After every game, I have stuff to work on,” he said. “There’s no doubt. This week I may have a little bit more stuff to work on than I had last week.”

Theus, from the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., was thrown into the fire right away.

“That was his first experience in that kind of crowd noise, and obviously it got to him some,” coach Mark Richt said. “They also were stemming late, moving late. … He jumped. He jumped quite a few times along with our freshmen backs. He’s got to get used to that kind of thing.”

Quick promotion

Theus ran with the first-team at right tackle not long after the start of preseason practices and nailed down the job quickly.

He was pushed into the starting job because Kolton Houston remains ineligible for testing positive for an NCAA banned substance. Houston showed encouraging signs with his play at the position at the end of spring practices.

“It shows what a great football player he is just to be out there,” junior offensive lineman Chris Burnette said.

The 6-foot-6, 309-pound Theus was recruited for such an opportunity. He was the only Bulldogs commitment named to the USA Today All-USA team or the Parade All-America team.

“He’s still a baby,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “He’s had camp, four weeks of practice and was hurt all last week. We don’t expect him to go out there and be a dominant guy on the edge like we think he can be in the future right now, but as long as he continues to get better, I think he can be an elite player in this league.”

And “he can handle a little bit of adversity and doesn’t get shook. He went through some adversity in the game the other night. A couple of missed blocks and missed assignments. The guy continued to play hard and play physical.”

Missouri redshirt senior defensive end Brad Madison got both of the Tigers’ sacks.

“A veteran was working on a rookie, and he learned a lot,” Richt said.

Theus said he’s gotten “great support” from his older teammates this week.

Murray said he went to him after the game he was proud of him for fighting through a difficult first half.

“It’s nerve-wracking for anyone to go to an away stadium, much less a true freshman,” Murray said.

Burnette, who lines up next to Theus at right guard, said the other offensive linemen reminded Theus at times during the game: “Hey, just move forward.”

Theus called his second game “a learning experience, first away game. Winning made it a lot better.”

He’s back on the practice field this week, working to become that dominant player that Bobo thinks he will be one day.

“I know I’m far from there now,” he said. “There’s definitely big adjustments that have to be made and still have to be made and I’m learning. Saturday was one of those times I had to learn and had to grow up. It’s a long ways off from me being a good player so I’m working every day with coach Friend and the guys to try to get there.”